With more than 500 participants from 20 European countries and the US and Canada, the International Congress of the peace movement focused on political critique and alternatives to NATO.

Speakers from NATO countries of Europe and the USA, from Russia, Georgia, Afghanistan, and further countries criticized the policy of NATO which steers towards global militarization and demanded an end of NATO’s war in Afghanistan and the dismantlement of NATO and its global military bases.

One of the most prominent voices of Friday was Phyllis Bennis from the USA, who demanded to judge US President Barak Obama by his actions. Joseph Gerson, also from the USA, saw realistic chances for a complete disarmament of nuclear arms. For this, more movement is needed – Strasbourg is a good start. Jan Tamas from the Czech Republic stated “We brought down the government. We also will bring down the Missile Defense System and achieve the dismantlement of the military bases.

Following the international demonstration of Saturday, the congress will continue on Sunday with a discussion of representatives of political parties and participants of peace and social movements from different European countries and other plenaries and events.

For the ICC,

Arielle Denis and Reiner Braun